Spring plank



G. S. CHILES SPRING PLANK Filed Dec. 5, 1923 5 Sheets-$116791'. 1

June 23, 1925.

///////////////////;7/`//////f Z- 6 'l 20 20 GweC/u,

W M7 a Y @w June 23,

G. s. cHlLEs SPRING PLANK l F i1ed'neG.s asume-sheet 2 n' .waff/wwf f3- f4 Mmmm 15| @ai Q P 3g 1 32 l/ 2g j,

June 23, 1925.

` G. s. CHILI-:s

SPRING ,PLANK Filed Dec. 5. 1923 nn f.

3 SheetsLSheet 5 www@ Patented June 23, v1925. i

` UNITED STATES ,PATE-NT OFFICE.

GEORGE S. CHILES, OF LIMA, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO' THE OHIO STEEL FOUNDRY COM- PANY, OF LIMA, OHIO, A CORPORATIONOFrOI-IIO. l

' i l SPRINGHPEAN.

Application filed Decembers, 1923. seriai No. 678371.

vthe same Vincluding as an integral part thereof a supporting device for thel car brakes. Other objects of the invention will appeal' from time to time as the description proceeds. Y

The invention may best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate certainl preferred forms in which it may be embodied.

In the drawingsf- Figure 1 is a perspective view of one form of my improved spring plank.

Figure 2 is a transverse section taken on lme .2 2 of Figure 1. l

VFigure 3 1s a section taken on line 3^3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a plan view of certain parts of the running gear of a railway "car truck and illustrating the relation of the spring plank as utilized therewith.

Fi ure 5 is a section taken on kline 5 5 Y of F1gure 4.

Y modification.

Figure Sis a transverse sectional view of one modified form of auxiliary brake beam support.

Figures 7 and 8 are details'of another ymodified form of support.

. Figures 9 and 10 and 11 are details of a third modification of brake 'beam support;

Figures 12 and 13 are details of a fourth Figures 14, 15 and 16 are details of a fifth modification. l

l Figures 17 and 18 are details ofl a modified form of central brake support.. v v

Figure 19 is a detail of another form of central brake support.

Spring planks have heretofore been in common use in railway ycartrucks such planks extending between v.opposite side frames to provide a bearing support for the main springs, and tie the sideframes to-l gether. Such planks heretofore usually consist4 olf-a relatively flatcastingyor forging, having suitable bearing surfacesat4 opposite ends for engagement with the respective springs and side frame members.

In the present inventiom'I provide anew form of spring plank which in addition to its usual function above described, may

' also provide support for certain parts of the brake mechanism which is ordinarily positioned adjacent thereto, and which hereto- Y fore has been supported by separate devices secured to the spring plank, or other portions of the running gear.

In carrying out my: invention, one form of plank is illustrated in Figs. 1 to 5 inclusive, and comprises a main body portion 10, adapted to extend transversely of the truck between adjacent side Vframes in the usual manner. Details of the side frames and springs are omitted from the drawings as they form no part of the present invention, and their construction will be understood by those familiar with the art.

The improved form of spring plank is provided with integral projecting supporting members for certain parts of the adjacent brake mechanism. The plank is preferably forged so yas to produce a structure presenting maximum strength for minimum weight, and the` supporting projectionsV are formed so as to retain the strengthof,y the J neath the brake beams 12, 12 which in stand- .ard Ytruck construction extend transversely of the truck on opposite sides of the spring plank, as shown in Figs. 4 and 5. Said brake beams carry the brake shoes 13, 13, in position adjacent the truck wheels 14, 14. Thebrake mechanism may be supported by any ysuitable means as for instance, by the usual supporting devices (not shown) on the truck, or by novel supporting devices formed integral with the spring plank in accordance with a yc'o-related part of the present invention. as will presently'be described. The auxiliarysupports 11,11 are normally spaced from. the brake beams .to

stantially linV horizontal alignment with ythe "'inain body port-ion 10. In' the form shown in Figs. 9,' 10, 11, the side' margins 28h, 28?y are flanged outwardly at the en ds. form'is shown 'in Figs. 12 and' 13 in which ping of the brake lbeams is a frequent cause lsomewhat angular in cross section. the forms illustrated, the arrangement is of' serious accidents, as the brake shoes thereon are so positioned that they often cause derailiiieiit of the truck wheels. By reason lof the provision of the projections 11, 11

however, the brake beams will be caught thereon, and this constant element of danger is thus'rendered negligible, if not practically eliminated.

in order to permit the supports'11, 11 to I fit .beneath the'brake beanie in'staiidard constructions, it is necessary that said, supports' extend'at a slightly lower level than lthe main level of the spring plank body 10, as shown' inr Figs. 2 and 3. The plank body '10 is Vpreferably formed 'with marginal 'flanges 17, 17 extending upwardly for strengthening the' plank. 1n order to maintain 'the desired strength at the. juncture of A'the plank body 10 and projectionsll, 11 a y depression 2O is formed at these points. 'The boundary of each depression extends inwardlypart way from the lateral margin towardl the 'center ofA the plank body 10, 'the nietal being of substantially the saine thickness as at other parts of said body poi'- tion. rlhe marginal flanges 17, 17 are curved outwardly 'at' the junction points as indicated at 21, 21, having their height increased at these points over the adjacent flanged port-ions by reason of the adjoining depressions 20, 20. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 theV depressions may be gently curving in crosssection. Fig. 6 illustrates a modified form in which the depression is formed In all such that the strength of the plank is mainy tained by the. provision vof the depressions '20, y2O as described.

Gbviously, the con- .'struction lends itself especially to the forging or pressing Vof the plank from sheet metal stock, by which methods strength may be combined with lightness. 4 y

The shapev of' the projections 11, 11 may Vbe varied in accordance with requirements of design. In Figs. 1, 2, and 8, one form is suggested in which lthe bottoni wall 22 slopes upwardly from the adjacent depression-20,I

and the marginal flanges 28, 2S are upright and substantially flat along their upper niar- `gins. This form is particularly adapted for f `irining"the auxiliary supports for the brake beams. Several modified forms of auxiliary supports are 'also shown. In the forni shown in Figs. 7 and 8 the bottom wall"22a is subthe lateral walls are flanged outwardly at The saine general type of projections niay also be 'iorined on tlieplaiik body for the purpose of positively supporting the brake mechanism centrally of the frame. The plank shown in Figs. 1,2, 8, land 5 is provided with such supporting members 80, 30 arranged to extend laterally and` below the brake hangerV 3 1, which may be of any stancb aid forni, and` including a sliding shoe 32, which rides on the supporting meiiiber'BO during operation of the brake. As shown in these figures, said member niay be' formed integral withv the main body portion 10 of the plank, with strengthening :depressions 34, 34 atthe junction point, said depressions being siii'iilar in forni and function to the depressions 20, 2O already described.

' The side flanges'l, 55 of the latter projections extend a suflicient distance from L sionBl, but the flanges are preferably omittedl'froni the supporting members 30, 3() beyond the point of intersection so as to afford flexibility of said supporting menibers relative to they brake mechanism" which they support.

A modified forml ofbrake support is shown in Figs. 17 and 18, in which said support is made up of two parts a and 36, the former being integral with the plank body 10, and formed with strengthening side flanges 35a, ain the manner described, while the extension portion86 is secured to` part 80a in any suitable manner, as by rivets 38, 38. l

Another form of brake supporting. member is shown inFigure 19,.in which the marginalv flange 17 of the plank 10 is eX- tended upwardly to forni a laterally curving tive displacement of the parts.

I claim as my invention:

1. A spring plank' forV car trucks comprisV with, having continuous marginal flanges Another along contiguous, sides of said body portion and projections, and depressed areas at' the intersections of said body'portion and'pro- 2.V In a lcar truckin combination with a semiflexible to compensa-te for slight relajections extending laterally beneath said brake beam, the plank being formed with a depressed area at the points of intersect-ion of said projections and continuous marginal flanges along contiguous sides of said plank and projections.

3. In a car truck, in combination with brake mechanism, a spring plank adjacent said mechanism provided with a projection' affording' support for said brake mechanism, the plank being formed with a depressed area at the point of intersection of said projection, and continuous marginal flanges along contiguous sides of said plank and projection.

4. In a car truck,.in combination with brake mechanism, a spring plank adjacent said mechanism provided with a projection affording a relatively fiexible support for said mechanism, the plank being formed with a depressed area at the point of intersection of said projection, and continuous marginal anges along contiguous sides of said plank and projection.

5. A spring plank for car trucks formed of sheet metal of substantially uniform thickness and comprising a body portion and laterally extending projections integral therewith, having continuous flangesalong contiguous sides of said body portion and projections, and depressed areas at the intersections of said body portion and projections.

6. A spring plank for car trucks comprismarginal j ing a relatively flat body portion and laterally extending projections integral therewith having continuous marginal flanges along contiguous sides of said body portion and projections, and depressed areas at the intersections of said body portion and projections, the metal of said depressed areas being substantially uniform in thickness .with the body portion. y

7. In a car truck, in combination with and comprising a relatively fiat body portion and laterally extending projections integral therewith, having continuous marginal flanges along contiguous sides of said body portion and projections, and depressed areas at the intersections of said body portion and projections.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name this 16th day of N ovember, A. D., 1923.

GEORGE S. CHILES. Y 

